PUM.Hijack.StartMenu

PUM.Hijack.StartMenu is a generic term for potentially-unwanted modifications to your Windows Start Menu. These modifications may also be linked to rootkits or Trojans that create pop-ups, disable your ability to access unrelated programs or display inaccurate warnings about PC threats like spyware. SpywareRemove.com malware researchers generally recommend that you remove PUM.Hijack.StartMenu with anti-malware software, since the presence of PUM.Hijack.StartMenu is rarely ever a good thing. However, in cases where PUM.Hijack.StartMenu is a false positive and its changes to your Start Menu are desirable, you can set PUM.Hijack.StartMenu to be ignored as an exception from within most brands of anti-malware products. Regardless, if you suspect that PUM.Hijack.StartMenu came aboard with PC threats like those noted above, you should remove them as soon as convenient to insure your computer's security.

PUM.Hijack.StartMenu – Playing Houdini with Your Shortcuts

Although PUM.Hijack.StartMenu is sometimes a mislabeled and benign alteration to your Start Menu, most cases of PUM.Hijack.StartMenu detections are undesired attacks against your Start Menu's accessibility and functionality. Symptoms of PUM.Hijack.StartMenu attacks are mostly-limited to the removal of program shortcuts and other features from the menu, although this doesn't prevent you from accessing these files by other routes (such as My Computer or the Command Prompt). SpywareRemove.com malware researchers also note that PUM.Hijack.StartMenu is often included with other potentially-unwanted modifications, such as PUM.Hijack.TaskManager, that disable portions of your computer's security and maintenance utilities.

Since PUM.Hijack.StartMenu doesn't, by itself, cause any harm to your actual files or programs, you can restore your Start Menu by removing PUM.Hijack.StartMenu with competent anti-malware applications. SpywareRemove.com malware experts recommend that you do this via a complete scan of your PC, since PUM.Hijack.StartMenu is often installed along with Trojans, browser hijackers and other kinds of malicious programs that may have less-visible components than PUM.Hijack.StartMenu itself.

Other Problems That May Plague You While PUM.Hijack.StartMenu is Around

Although PUM.Hijack.StartMenu's attacks are limited to changes to the Windows Start Menu, PUM.Hijack.StartMenu is often accompanied by specific types of PC threats that are known for their own symptoms. Common dangers involved in a PUM.Hijack.StartMenu-linked attack can also include:

• Redirect attacks from browser hijackers that force your web browser to load hostile websites.
• Pop-up messages that display spyware warnings and other types of fake alerts – in most cases, to encourage you to install fake security products.
• Fraudulent system warnings about low RAM and other malfunctions that have no basis in reality.

Since such symptoms are often associated with PC threats that are affiliated with scamware, SpywareRemove.com malware research team recommends that you pay close attention to unusual software offers or requests to purchase unrecognized brands of security products. However, a complete system scan with suitable anti-malware software can remove any PC threats that are linked to PUM.Hijack.StartMenu as well as PUM.Hijack.StartMenu itself, although additional measures (such as booting to Safe Mode) may also be required for a thorough deletion.